Promoting the use BSF technology among farmers, a step towards a sustainable agriculture practice.

In their stride to promote a sustainable agriculture practice among farmers, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), a partner of the BSF for Bio Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability (BBEST) led by the International Institute Tropical Agriculture (IITA) undertook a training on the rearing the black soldier fly (BSF) in Kinshasa in DRC. The three-day training from 29 to 31July 2024 aimed at equipping agripreneurs on the rearing of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), the production of its larvae and its incorporation into quail, chicken, fish and pig feed. In his welcome address, Prof. Patrick MAFWILA gave a brief overview of the chicken fish and pig feed and organic fertilizer value chain development using Black Soldier Fly- based urban biowaste processing in Ghana, Mali Niger and DRC, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), highlighting the various experiments carried out on animals including quails, chickens, fish and pigs. Mr. Joel MANGANA highlighted the overall and specific objectives of the BBEST project. His presentation focused on the rearing of the Black Soldier Fly, explaining to the participants the need to have organic waste available, which is used in the fly's diet. He also specified the need to allocate a space for the rearing, with all the possible equipment, including the black cages, the nesting boxes, mosquito nets and shelves. He elaborated on the elements that are conducive for a good rearing, such as temperature, light and the quality of the organic waste. Emphasis was placed on the fly’s life cycle and the importance of rearing it. The theoretical training was followed by a series of questions from the participants, who visited the black soldier fly rearing unit at UNIKIN. On the second day of the training, three groups were formed around the three training modules. The first module on the incorporation of larvae meal in poultry feed was taught by Mr. Toussaint MABIALA, the module on the incorporation of larvae meal in pig feed was taught by Mrs. Pierrette NZABA and the module on the incorporation of larvae meal in fish feed was taught by Mr. Pascal KOKOTA. After the theoretical sessions on these 3 modules, the beneficiaries practiced mixing larvae meal with pig, fish and poultry feed. Following the two days of theoretical sessions, each group discussed the incorporation of the larvae meal into pig, poultry and fish feed. Through the training, Mr. Antoine Roger Kadima TSHIYOMBO, an agripreneur attested to the challenges with the high cost of animal feed. With the training provided by UNIKIN and the BBEST project, he will be able to produce animal feed locally and reduce production cost. According to Mr. Jaccard NGANIA “the training provided the needed answers to all the questions he had before attending the training and recommended to the organizers to provide such training throughout the country”

The 5 beneficiaries supported in various ways by the IITA BBEST project namely Mr. Aron LUKANU of the Coopérative Agricole de Centre de Kimbanseke, (COOPACEK), Mr. Mpova EWING of the Coopérative Agricole de Centre Maraicher de N'djili, (COOPACEN), Mr. Jean Rene MANGIBA of the Association des Pisciculteurs pour le Développement au Congo, (APIDEC), Mr. Lipasa NGANDU of the Judith farm and Mr. Stanis KAMBULA of the Kabala Kamesa Kalundi (KAMKA) farm shared their experiences on the rearing of the black soldier fly and encouraged participants to adopt the rearing and mass production of the BSF. The participants thanked the IITA BBEST project, UNIKIN and NORAD and asked for support from the IITA BBEST project to enable them to carry out their activities as they understood the importance of black soldier fly rearing as a solution to the problem of high cost of protein meal in the formulation of animal feed and organic fertilizer.